Sunday, October 19, 2008

WWW, October 2008 - Selector Papa Jason of the German based Roots Ministry Sound System takes us into a Dancehall vibe extraordinaire! Digital vibes galore and well versatile. When you can take it, that is.

Ever since Jammy's came up with the now legendary Sleng Teng riddim, Jamaican studio's have been applying digital possibilities with various results. Some people went wild, while others couldn't apprecilove it at all. The debate continues until this day...

Much has happened after Sleng-Teng, obviously. The specific UK DUB and Roots sound rests heavily on the sound of the Drum computer, for example. But also Dancehall and Jamaican Roots of today has gone digital for a large degree.

The 8th episode of the Roots Ministry Mixdown series takes us -for the most part- back to the early days of the digital era. Many things were kinda new, even revolutionary, and so experimentation was the order of the day.

Simply a very, very interesting experience to hear some of those early digi-tunes again. In a time wherein a whole generation grew up with digital music and many prejudice of back then have faded in the trails of history, it's never a bad thing to know where we're coming from: another service from the Roots Ministry for which we give thanks.

WWW, October 2008 - Selecting and mixing is an art requiring skills and talents. Germany based Sound System ROOTS MINISTRY masters the arts and comes back once again to serve the needs of Roots Lovers all over the world.

In the meantime, we've reached the seventh episode in the Roots Ministry Mix Down series. Selected and mixed by Sista Simone, here is another hour filled with Vocals, Dubs and DJ tracks. Everything skillfully mixed together in different and surprising ways, accompanied by crucial sirens and jingles.

The show has a clear emphasis on Jamaican Rockers and Rub a Dub from the 1970's/1980's, but isn't limited to that era and time. After a while, we go into UK DUB and Roots by Jah Shaka and others.

Consciousness galore: this show will warm up the hearts and souls of the Roots People all over the world who need Roots Music as part of spiritual nourishment.

WWW, December 2007 - "Old Riddim, New Roots" gives us an insight into the way Reggae Riddims are taken from one generation into the next and things are added with each new style.

Even though fortunately new riddims come into existence almost every day, the old ones are revamped with each new generation of Reggae Music as well.

This is done in a wide variety of ways, some technically and some instrumentally. One might sample a loop and base a whole new tune on just that one loop, others will re-do the old riddim and yet there is a third group that will do even other things.

This episode of the "PotCast" (No Typo there) gives us a wonderful example of such new skool recordings.

We're introduced to a wide variety of styles and sounds, which in itself is rather interesting because many seem to think that contemporary Reggae all sounds the same because of the digital technology that is incorporated.

WWW, December 2007 - When the music starts playing after 30 seconds, DJ Ian Irie has already taken us straight into a DEEP ROOTS VIBE.

Ambassada Hi-Power is a UK based Sound System that traces it's roots back to the 1970's. Obviously, this says a thing or two and one of these "things" is SHAKA.JAH SHAKA, to be precise.

"More Rootical Culture, Selector!" opens up with a big up to the man whose name is synonymous with militant and conscious Roots Music presented with deep bass and upfull lyrics. JAH Shaka's Sound System has inspired and keeps inspiring people to Chant Down Babylon too.

In the UK, Conscious and militant Sound Systems even form a genre in themselves. You could speak about a Rootical Culture, definitely. And so it is no surprise when one Conscious Sound System bigs up another instead of mashing him down as we see so often in other Dancehalls.

The Rootical Culture can also be recognized by experiencing -rather than listening- to the Podcast. Reggae Music productions from all times and places come together and DJ Ian Irie's Mixing Board makes sure that everything blends together into a harmonic Inity.

WWW, December 2007 - Heavy, heavy Roots you can't refuse: Ambassada Hi-Power's DJ Ian Irie comes once again with a selection of vocals and dubs that will make the weak heart drop.

We call it rootical, because the music is Roots Reggae Music. Roots Music which provides the foundation and the life for both the branches and the fruits. This foundational Reggae Music more often than not comes with Conscious lyrics or titles.

Conscious themes and vibes are Ambassada Hi-Power's musical trade mark. With that, they are part of a Culture of Conscious Sound Systems which especially in the UK has a long-lasting history and future as well!

"More Rootical, Selector!" is a traditional Rootical mix by one of the foundational UK based Sound Systems. It's a hard core mix with deep dubs and penetrating vocal tracks that lasts just over an hour.

We'll hear gems like Johnny Clarke's version of Crazy Baldhead and Barrington Levy's Bounty Hunter together with heavy UK DUB productions by Mafia and Fluxy, the UK's very own Riddim Twins.

When we arrive at Bunny Wailer's "Cool Runnings", we have another uplifting experience behind us, that will keep us craving for more Rootical Culture, Selector!

WWW, December 2007 - When Toots and the Maytalls performed their track "Reggae Got Soul", they could very well have the Ghetto Organ riddim in mind.

One-Riddim CD's are usually interesting for DJ's who like to play a different version all the time. On their Podcasts, for example. For there is a big difference between a CD and a Podcast.

that's why One-Riddim Podcasts need to have some relevance, for even the most staunch lover of Reggae Music will not really like to listen to just one riddim for let's say half an hour or -in the case of this podcast- three quarters.

They will like Ghetto Organ Style, though.

The Ghetto Organ riddim itself is very soulful. You'll hear it as soon as you downloaded the Podcast and start to play it. The tune you will hear may not be recognized as Reggae at all!

As the mix goes further, we discover just how strong and flexible Reggae Music really is. Yes, Jamaican Music is known to absorb and integrate the vibes-of-the-times, but not too many people will realize just how far this goes.

The music definitely is timely. Throughout the whole show, we will not leave the realms of the 1970's even though the theme of the riddim (Living In The Ghetto) hasn't lost one bit of it's actuality...

WWW, December 2007 - A very interesting 12" by UB40 is just one highlight of another massive Podcast by the UK based collective behind "Stop That Train". Don't let it pass you by, for the mix may not be available for download forever!

Johnny Clarke's "Leggo Violence" is a massive tune, even decades after it was originally released. That could be a reason just why Stop That Train #8 opens up with it.

Another reason could be, that the second selection is a very interesting "cover" version (including a heavy DUB) of "Leggo Violence", containing some "very UK" DUB Poetry.

Interesting seems to be the best word to describe the 56 minutes non-stop mix of Drum-And-Bass niceness. We're taken back into time, pulled back into this century, flown to Jamaica to meet spiritual people and driven to the UK where UB40 explains to us why they do not believe in JAH.

Yes, that's right. There are some people who play Reggae and do not believe in JAH.

Some of them are hypocrites because they will sing about Him anyway, but this cannot be said about the band who named themselves after the well-fare form they had to fill in before they became one of the top Reggae bands of the world.

"Don't Let It Pass You By" is a very heartical tune by the band, even though statements such as "There Is No One Coming With That Freedom Train" and suggestions how spiritual people are blind will cause disagreements with many who know themselves to be on that train anyway and don't consider themselves to be blind at all...

But after listening to the excellent tune with superb DUB version, no one can be in their right mind and deny UB40's well-deserved place within Reggae Music.

WWW, December 2007 - You don't need a language gene to figure out that here is Mukti Sound System presenting a Lion Selection.

You need a Reggae gene for it, or a DUB gene. Do you have one?

The Lion Selection opens up with a short reasoning by the Rastafari Elders. If you are -like some others- claiming that DUB cannot carry a message and is basically "dumb" music, you have just woken up the Lion and you really shouldn't do that.

Or maybe you should and really feel the strength of DUB. For if there is one thing that describes this excellent Podcast, it must be the well-placed title, even though it is written in a language that many do not understand.

DUB truly is one of the strongest disciplines within Reggae Music and even beyond that. As the words are scarce, the music obviously appeals to more parts of our consciousness than just the language section.

A Lion communicates without words. You could say, that until a certain level DUB does the same. DUB appeals straight to those parts in our soul that deal with things "unspeakable".

Just ask Mukti and he will tell you.

In fact, he already did and the result is reviewed right here.

Mukti's Lion Selection basically consists out of the better DUB material from all over the world. Material that isn't necessarily that known within the circles of those that know their Reggae and especially their DUB.We will hear King Jammy dubbing the Japanese band Dry and Heavy, for example. Zenzile is there too, a great DUB band that many may never have heard of before.

From the top to the very last drop, everything is mixed very skillfully. Non-stop, we are taken from one crucial selection into the next. As we move through a wide variety of vibes and styles, times and places, the message is clear: Those who claim DUB is "dumb music" are themselves really deaf.

WWW, December 2007 - The Desi Rock Riddim first surfaced around July 2007, but has yet to find it's way through the official distribution channels.

Brand New, Good For You!

Natty King, Lutan Fyah as well as a whole host of other contemporary Roots and Dancehall vocalist have already done their work and provided the brand new Desi Rock Riddim with some crucial words.

The riddim itself is a rather melodic Roots riddim with a One Drop drum and groovy bassline that will shut down the mouths of those that claim how Roots Music is a thing of the past.

In this mini-podcast by the Dancecrasher Crew, we can listen to just over eight minutes of the really nice riddim. The crew warn us against websites who sell MP3 files of the riddim, because at the time this review is written -around December 2007- the riddim has yet to be released officially.

WWW, December 2007 - In another massive mix that will bless the Roots People and drive away the vampires, DJ Ian Irie presents one hour of pure Roots and Culture from several times and places.

As he touches every knob on his mixing table and the effect button like an addict, DJ Ian Irie of the Ambassada Hi-Power Sound System plays one piece of UK DUB and Roots after the other Jamaican DUB and Roots.

This is the kind of mix you preferably want to listen to on a HiFi set that can produce a lot, and I mean a lot, of bass. Combined with a lot of volume, you will start to dance from the top to the very last drop.

Most of the Ambassada podcasts go further than "just" presenting Reggae Music the way it should be presented by a Sound System, and Rootical Part Eight is no exception to that rule.

As the name suggests, there is actually a theme or reasoning behind the selection and usually the lyrical topics in the selection will provide lots and lots of food for thought.

Enough food to meditate during the long, long DUB parts for which we give thanks as well!

WWW, December 2007 - In 1988, this tune was already a classic. In 2007, this video is historical. Behold one more reason why Reggae cyaan die!

The last part of the 1980's was a very special time, in a way. Ragga and Dancehall were hot, while in Jamaican Studio's digital technology slowly took over much of the analogue material used in the decades before that.

The "War on Drugs" had taken it's toll, too, when many of the Ganja Fields were burned down and cokane flooded Jamaica like never before. Guns and violence were obviously attached to all of this and it wasn't like Jamaica was a peaceful place before that, either.

It was the years before what some call the Rasta Renaissance would be a fact with Tony Rebel and others bringing back Consciousness and Righteousness, too.

It is within this context, that we meet with Bunny Wailer in one of his Jamaican performances. He's about to sing the tune called Roots, Radics, Rockers, Reggae which deals directly with the fact that Roots will always have to be there, for what is a tree without roots?

JAH B is known for his impressive performances, and this one is no exception to that either. He uses his whole body to express the lyrics he sings and continually interacts with the audience and the band.

The sound that the band produces, was very contemporary in that time. The drummer, for example, would use a combination of acoustic and digital drums and the keyboards were updated as well.

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